PRETORIA, Friday, 25th July, 2014 – A TEAM of councillors and staff from Lusaka City Council (LCC) are in Johannesburg, South Africa to study operations of automated ticketing systems in that country.
The study tour, conducted under the auspices of Vane Technologies of South Africa, is being undertaken with the view of introducing electronic ticketing systems in various operations at Lusaka’s Inter-City Bus Terminus.
Leading the delegation, Kabwata member of Parliament, Mr. Given Lubinda said in Johannesburg on Thursday that the tour also acted as a due deligence exercise on the company. He has since appealed to Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Muyeba Chikonde, to assist with further studies of the company’s track record.
Mr. Lubinda said the bus terminus handled a huge number of both vehicles and people and that there was need for an efficient and fool-proof system in order to increase accountability levels. Mr. Lubinda said LCC was losing a lot of money through theft and corruption because of the current systems which he said were easy to compromise.
“The world is becoming cashless in its transactions and we cannot be left behind. If our people are able to buy bus tickets and other things through vending machines, then we will reduce on cases of theft. This is something we can roll-out to other parts of the country if it succeeds in Lusaka. There are so many bus operators at Inter-City and the current system is just too cumbersome,” Mr Lubinda said.
He noted that the terminus deserved a fast and efficient system that would make it easier for bus operations to be time-bound.
He said LCC thought of taking the study tour because the system being proposed by Vane Technologies was new in Zambia and so needed to have an on-the-spot inspection.
Mr. Lubinda said the company disclosed to his team that they handled the ticketing for the 2010 Africa Cup Tournament held in South Africa and were also doing tickets for various airlines including the Gauteng Province train system, Gautrain.
The group later visited Kazimu Sata and Tiberth Musambachime at Milpark Hospital.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr. Lubinda said he was glad to see that both Kazimu and Tiberth looked “bright” considering that they were involved in a traumatic accident during which they sustained serious injuries.
“I am glad that they could recognise me and we could even converse. We keep them in our prayers and I call on all Zambians to pray for them.”
Mr. Lubinda also commended the Zambian High Commission to South Africa for keeping the nation informed on the condition of the two.
“I wish to commend the High Commission for doing a good job. We have been following through the media and we have learned that you are indeed looking after them well,” Mr. Lubinda said.
Other members of the delegation were Councellors Chrispin Kabole and Robinson Kalota, and LCC Finance Director, Mr. Victor Mazimba; Engineer, Mr. Musonda Mulenga; I.T. Manager, Ms. Judith Beene, and Inter-City Manager, Mr. Penjani Chirambo.
Issued by:
Nicky Shabolyo
PRESS SECRETARY
ZAMBIA HIGH COMMISSION IN PRETORIA